Adjustable swivel caster



W. S` SIMPSON ADJUSTABLE SWIVEL CASTER Filed Sept. 25, 1922 M 07 Ja'gaon l l f 4 @M JW ww Patented Oct. 28, 1924.

wALrna s snltrson, orcAiiroNQonm; assieloil'ioffrnan'unirnn .LCTnI'c'po- IANYrOfICANTON, OHIO, vAfoo nromi'non criterium..r

i yApplication lei September 23, 1922.1;Seri'a1N`o. $0,124 "i To all whom t may concern:

Be it lknown that' I, WALTER' SIMPSON,

a citizen o the 4United States, lresiding at Canton, in the county of Starkand State of Ohio, have invented 'new and useful Improvements in Adjustable lSwivel Casters,

of which the following'is :a specification.l

- This invent-ion rel-ates'to casters for the rear end of portable vacuum cleaners-'or similar use, whereinit is'desirable to adjust the caster vertically with relation to-themachine, totiltthe sameupward or downward u on themforward'whe'els and wherein the vibration of the machine tends to change the adjustment 'of the'caster; and the objects of the improvement are to provide ,a simple means for adjusting such a caster to any desired position and for stopping or holding it in the various positions.

More generally the invention involves means for adjusting two separable parts, one of which parts carries an adjusting plate pivotally connected thereto and provided with an irregular slot engaged by a clamping screw upon the other part whereby the parts may be separated or brought toward each other land eld in any given position of adjustment.

An embodiment of the invention is illus- B0 trated inthe accompanying drawings formingrpart hereof, in whichigure 1 is a side elevation of a portable machine showing the improved caster thereon;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary section on line 2 2,

Fig. 1;

ig. 3, a perspective view of the bracket; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the caster arm; and

Fig. 5, an elevation of the adjusting plate. Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding arts throughout the several figures of the rawings. Y For the purpose of lllustrating the application of the invention to a portable machine, a vacuum cleaner of any usual type is illustrated and comprises the fan casing 1, having theusual suction cleaning nozzle 2 at its forward end and supporting the motor 5 casing 3, the discharge neck 4 being located at the rear end 'of the-casing and communieating with the dust collecting bag 5, a handle bail 6 being pivotal] connected to opposite sides of the casing or the p v a of manipulating lthe machine Ato andfro @n.the Hoor; 'eff f Machines of this typef are*usually` provided with a caster7 on each'sideinrear ofthe i l ends of the cleaning nozzle"'s'o that'the'saine can` be tilted upward or `downward lby loweriing or "raising the rear end of the 'machine and for.jthe purpose of limitingv the downward movement', `a-rear :caster v8fjis usually employed." f

' vBy making thisrear caster adjustable upward and downwardV with reference the rearend of the machine and by roviding means for holding the rear caster m theedjusted positions, the normal position of the nozzle with reference to the Hoor or carpet can be varied at will.

For the purpose of the present invention the rear caster is preferably mounted between the forks of the caster bracket 9, which is swivelly connected to the rear end of the caster arm 10, the forward end of vsaid arm being provided with the ears 11 pivot-ally connected to the ears 12 of the bracket plate 13 by means of a pin 14.

The bracket 13 is xed to the under side of the fan casing and is provided with the internally screw threaded lug 15 extending upward at one side of the casing. A bearing boss 16 is provided upon the adjacent side of the caster arm and receives the pin 17 upon which the adjusting plate 18 is journaled. This adjusting plate is provided with a substantially V-shaped slot 19 providing for three adjustments indicated at 1, 2 and 3 thereon and receives the clamping screw 20 which engages tin. threaded lug 15 upon the bracket.

The parts, are so arranged and proportioned that a turn upon the clamping screw to loosen the same will permit the adjusting plate. to be swung upon its pivot to engage the points 1, 2 or 3 thereon with the `clamping screw, raising or lowering the cleaning nozzle with reference to the Hoor. When the proper adjustment is provided,

the screw 20 is tightened, holding the caster` arm in the proper position.

It will be seen that in the normal or high position of the nozzle, the clamping screw 20 will rest'in the apex of the inverted V- shaped slot at the point 1. -When the clamping screw is moved to the point 3 at the extremity of the longer arm of the V-slot, the nozzle will be lowered to its lowv ing positions may be obtained by locatingv the clamping screw at the'desired point in either of the arms of the V and tightening the screw to hold the casing in the desired adjustment. v

, B'y this construction and larrangement, it is evident that the caster arm with the rear caster thereon may be adjusted to and from the bottom of theA vacuum cleaner by merely loosening the clamping screw and swinging the adjusting' plate into the desired position, after which the clamping screw is tightened, so that when a particular adjustment is given to the arm, the screw will normally hold the same in the adjusted position and the vacuum cleaner may be lifted from the door either bodily or at its rear end, Withmaratea arm.

l claim l 1. In combination with a vacuum cleaner, an arm pivoted thereto at one end and having a caster in the other end, an adjusting out disturbing the adjustment of the caster 'plate pivoted upon the arm and provided with a substantially V-shaped slot. and a4 clamping screw upon the cleaner engaging said slot.

3. lln combination with a vacuum cleaner, an arm pivoted thereto at one end and having a caster in the other end, an adjustable plate pivoted upon the arm and provided with an inclined slot, and a clamping screw upon the cleaner engaging said slot.

WALTER S. SIMPSON. 

